In the wake of record fuel prices across Queensland, motorists say increased shopper docket discounts will have a “dramatic impact” on where they fill up. According to locals, most drivers go out of their way to shop at Coles or Woolworths in order to take advantage of the discounts. The shopper dockets offered by major […]

With almost 700,000 Queenslanders booked for speeding last year, the government denies speed cameras are used mainly for revenue-raising. Speed cameras brought in $69 million in revenue last year, while more than 110,000 people have been booked in the first two months of this year. A Newsbytes street poll has found people divided about traffic […]

Commuters in south-east Queensland are angry at shoulder-to-shoulder crowding on trains and soaring ticket prices across the public transport network, according to a Newsbytes street poll. One Brisbane commuter said trains were “packed to the rafters” in peak hours. “I think they need more trains to allow people to get in and out,” he said. […]

A Newsbytes street poll has found people are not concerned about the idea of high-tech surveillance drones as long as they are used only for crime control. Queensland Police could trial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the near future. Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope said he didn’t want to ban UAVs but […]

The Senate has postponed the reporting date of a committee inquiring into setting up an integrity commissioner and code of conduct for parliamentarians, prompting renewed debate on the topic. A Newsbytes street poll showed people had strong views about acceptable standards of behaviour for parliamentarians. The Senate’s decision came two days after Fair Work Australia […]

The Gillard Government’s first budget drew praise and criticism from Brisbane people after its unveiling this week. People interviewed by Newsbytes praised increased expenditure on mental health, while criticising the free desktop box policy for pensioners. Comments on the budget included “tough on the right things”, “not for the people”, “bland”, “could do more for […]

The National Broadband Network is the largest single infrastructure investment in Australian history, with an estimated cost of $35.7 billion. The federal government hopes the network, which may perform up to one thousand times faster than current average wireless, will mean immediate advantages in education, health, and even civic spirit. But reception to the plan […]

With the continual rise of online news and the closures of many newspapers around the world, it’s important to ask: do newspapers have a future? To save costs many newspapers have cut jobs, outsourced subediting or gone completely online in response to the growing popularity of online news. Several high-profile journalists and academics have had […]

France has passed laws to ban the wearing of the burqa in public places. The ban has attracted criticism from many people, including human rights groups, but some say there should be similar laws in Australia. We asked people in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall what they thought.

Former Brisbane Broncos and current St George-Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has signed a four-year deal with the Newcastle Knights at a reported $2 million per season. He had previously been widely tipped to rejoin the Broncos. South Sydney was another club chasing his services. Newsbytes asked people in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall what they thought […]

Triggered by the Skype sex scandal, the Government has brought forward the initiative which would lift the ban on women in frontline combat positions. Defence Minister Stephen Smith said people’s roles in the forces should be based on their physical and intellectual capacity, not gender. “It opens up all of the leadership roles for women […]

New laws will force tobacco companies to use plain packaging plus graphic anti-smoking images on cigarette packs. Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says the generic olive green packaging will take away the glamour of smoking. “Cigarette packs will now only show the death and disease that can come from smoking,” she said. However, the British […]

This week’s Brisbane City Council meeting didn’t exactly go to plan. After refusing to leave council chambers following her suspension, Independent Cr Nicole Johnston was escorted from the building by police. We talked to people in Brisbane’s CBD to get their reactions, and asked them what they thought should have been done.

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke is reportedly looking for a location in Adelaide to build Australia’s first euthanasia clinic. A bill to allow doctor-assisted euthanasia is close to being passed by the South Australian parliament – but there are mixed opinions on this issue. We went to Queen Street Mall to find out people’s opinions […]